Locking dispenser for packaged sheet material



Sept. 16, 1941. E. R. CREBBS LOCKING DISPENSER FOR PACKAGED SHEET MATERIAL Filed March 25, 1941 .MB M 1, mm a VR M T n ma m u L Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNETE STATES PATENT are are.

LOCKING DISPENSER FOR PACKAGED SHEET MATERIAL '7 Claims.

My invention relates to a locking dispenser for packaged sheet material, such material being exemplified, for example, by folded paper towels, sanitary seat covers, and toilet paper.

The main object of my invention is to provide a dispenser for packaged, disposable paper articles, which can be locked in the dispenser until the packaged material is exhausted and then may be readily unlocked in order that the empty package may be removed and a full package inserted in the dispenser.

The dispenser of my present invention is ideally adapted to receive toilet seat covers and the like, packaged in accordance with the invention shown, described, and claimed in my prior filed application, Serial No. 295,588, filed September 19, 1939, and I will describe the present invention as applied to packaged toilet seat covers.

In my former application referred to above, I have shown, described, and claimed a relative- 1y small and fiat paper dispensing package ideally adapted for holding a limited number of toilet seat covers for use in locations such as hotel bathrooms, and the like, where a roll type dispenser is not satisfactory. However, it is difficult to so fasten or restrain a paper package so that it may not be taken by the departing traveler, and the present invention encompasses a metal container, which can be screwed or otherwise applied to a solid wall, which will hold the paper package and which can be locked with a simple locking device until the paper package is empty, whereupon the device may be readily unlocked and a new package placed in the container. My invention utilizes a lock which requires no'key, but which may readily be operated manually only after all of the dispenser contents have been removed. I so arrange the openings in both the dispenser and the package with relation to the lock that only after the package is empty is the lock readily accessible for manual unlocking without the use of a key or other separate instrument.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent or will be specifically pointed out in the description forming a part of this specification, but I do not limit myself to the embodiment of the invention herein described, as various forms may be adopted within the scope of the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view in perspective of one preferred form of my invention with the filled package in place ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 1 showing the lock visible through the front opening of the dispenser after all of the articles have been dispensed from the package.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one preferred form of package.

Fig. 4. is a longitudinal view, partly in section and a bottom 5, thusleaving the dispenser with an opening 6 in the top. The dispenser is shaped to receive a paper package, shown in Fig. 3, this paper package preferably having gussetted side walls Ill and H, a gusseted bottom l2 and a cover I3. The package is also provided with a front opening I4 through which folded articles such as paper towels,-sanitary toilet seat covers, or toilet paper may be dispensed, the articles being folded so that when one article is removed, the leading edge of the next article is presented to opening 14. In Fig. 3 the paper package is shown as being empty and showing a rear opening I5, the use of which will be explained later.

In order that the gusseted paper package may be retained in proper position in the metal dispenser, I prefer to provide the side walls 3 and 4 of the metal dispenser with angular inserts it and I1, each having an angle greater than that of the gussets H1 and II of the package, thus centering the package and providing a slide for the package gussets. If packages are used without gussets, these inserts may be omitted.

A cover for the dispenser is provided to close the opening 6, this cover being a separate unit as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The cover is provided with a top portion 20 of a size to completely close opening 6 at the top of the dispenser, a front downwardly extending portion 2| fitting just inside front wall 2 of the dispenser, and a rear downwardly extending portion 22, preferably of triangular shape, and terminating at its lower end in 2. rolled edge 24. Immediately above rolled edge 24 is a'locking aperture 25. When the cover i positioned on the top of the dispenser, the rear downwardly extending portion 22 extends downwardly a sufficient distance to terminate directly behind an opening 26 in the front wall 2 of the dispenser, thisopening being located to register with front opening IA of the inserted package. When the cover is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, aperture 25 in the rear downwardly extending portion 22 of the cover, snaps over a projection 21 extended inwardly from the rear wall I of the dispenser, this projection preferably having a sloping upper surface 29 and an undercut edge 39. The downwardly extending portions of the cover may, if desired, be slightly sprung outwardly in order that the lock may be kept tight,

but I do not wholly depend upon this springing for locking the two parts together, as will be explained later.

In use, the rear wall I of the dispenser is screwed or otherwise aifixed to a wall or background 3| and a full package is dropped into When a package such as shown,

the dispenser.

. wall cooperating with means 'on said downwardin Fig. 3, filled with the article to be dispensed,

is dropped into the dispenser, the front apertures of both package and dispenser'register'to expose the article to be dispensed, thefront edge 32 of which being shown in Fig. 1. 'The rear downwardly extending portion 22 of thecover is then inserted between the rear wall I of the dispenser anduthe'reanwall of the package and pushed downwardly .until the front downwardly extending portion 2| .of the cover enters behind the front wall 2 of the dispenser, and slides, behindit until the top 20 of the cover is flush with the top of the dispenser. During the final mo,- tion ofcoverinsertion, the downwardly extending portion 22 will ride up over projection 21 and when the cover is in the proper position,

bearing against the tops of angular inserts l6 s v and i1, aperture 25 ,will snap around projection 21 and the device is locked. V V

In order that I may not need to rely wholly upon the spring Of the. cover'to maintain the lock, rolled edge 24, is made of suificient thickness that it will bear against the rear wall'of the package and thus be forced fiat against the rear wallof the dispenser. Paper filled packages ofthis sort are resilient, and an outward force will be given to the rear downwardly extending portion22 tending to maintain the engagernent of the projectionfl andaperture 25. Once thecover is snapped in place, ,it will be difficult -to remove without special tools, until the dispensing package is empty, when it may be easily removed. 7 V V As :the last article is dispensed from the package,. all obstructions are removed between the lock and the front openinglt of the dispenser, and the lock is exposed to view through the empty package, as shown in Fig. 2. Itis very easy, therefore, for an attendant to refill the dispenser by placing his finger under the rolled edge 24 and pulling it outwardly and then pushing ly extending rear portion of said cover to lock said rear portion to said rear wall.

2. "Apparatus in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the recited cooperating locking means comprise a projection on said rear wall entering an aperture in said downwardly extending rear portionof said cover when said cover is inserted in said, dispenser in locking position.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the recited cooperating locking means comprise a projection on said rear wall entering an aperturein said downwardly extending rear portion of said cover when said cover is inserted in said dispenser in locking position and wherein the end of said rear cover portion below said aperture is provided with an inwardly rolled edge.

4. Apparatus in, accordance with claim 1, wherein the recited cooperating locking means comprise a projection on said rear wall entering an aperture in said downwardly extending rear portion of said cover when said cover is inserted in said dispenser in locking position and wherein the end of said rear cover portion below said ap erture is provided with a thickened portion ex tending inwardly to contact said package, thereby causing said package to exert pressure on the rear portion of said cover to maintain locking engagement with said rear wall.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the recited cooperating locking means i comprise a projection on said rear wall entering anaperture in said downwardly extending rear portion of said cover when said cover is inserted in said dispenser in locking position and wherein the end of said rear cover portion below said aperture is provided with a thickened portion exmay then be removed, anew one placed in the dispenser, and the cover again locked in place.

I have found that byusing thesimple locking cover described above, I have been able to greatly reduce pilferage of filled and partly filled packages. dispenser discloses no lock whatsoever, while there is anything left in the package, and consequently there is no tendency for anyone to tamperrwith the dispenser. There is novisual clew as to how the dispenser is locked, and yet the device is easily and quickly refilled when e pty. f .7

1. In combination with a package of folded articles dispensible through a front opening and having a rear opening therein, a dispenser come prising a body having a rear wall adapted to be fastened to a support, and a front wallconnect- Furthermore, visual inspection of the r ed to said rear portion by bottom and side walls said cover being aseparate unit having a top portion fitting the opening at the top of said tending inwardly to contact said package, thereby causing said package to exert pressure on the rear portion of said cover to maintain locking engagement with said rear wall, said thickened portion extending inwardly at least as far as the rear wall projection.

. 6.- Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the recited cooperating locking means comprise a projection on said rear wall entering an aperture in said downwardly extending rear portion of said cover when said cover is inserted in said dispenser in locking position, said projection being provided with an undercut lower surface, disengagement of said projection from said aperture being manually performed through comprise a projection on said rear wall entering an aperture in said downwardly extending rearportion of said cover whensaid cover is inserted in said clispenserin locking position, said projection being provided with a slopingupper surface for facilitating locking engagement when a full package is in said dispenser and an undercut lower surface, disengagement of said projection from said aperture being manually performed through the openings of an empty package locked in said dispenser; a i 1,

. EARL R. CREBBS. 

